Adnan Januzaj endorses Henrikh Mkhitaryan move

June 26, 2016

Manchester United’s seemingly successful pursuit of Borussia Dortmund’s Armenian attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is now out in the open and clear for everyone to see, and with the transfer looking more likely with each passing day, it is now being endorsed by United star Adnan Januzaj. Januzaj, who spent half of last season at Dortmund on loan, reportedly believes Mkhitaryan would be a great signing to help take United to the top of the Premier League under Jose Mourinho. Januzaj only played 11 times for Borussia Dortmund, presumably because of players like the versatile Mkhitaryan keeping him out of the team.

Able to play on either wing or in the centre of the pitch, Mkhitaryan formed a free attacking trio alongside Marco Reus and former United player Shinji Kagawa. As the most productive of the three by far, Mkhitaryan recorded one of the most productive seasons of any player in Europe’s top five leagues, recording 23 goals and 32 assists in just 52 appearances. From the right of a 4-2-3-1 formation, Mkhitaryan was able to show his underrated pace, his threaded passing and the ability to score spectacular goals that helped Dortmund finish second in the Bundesliga. Mkhitaryan’s agent, Mino Raiola has been very vocal about the midfielder’s desire to move despite the fact his club really does not want him to leave.

“We have both taken very different views and fight for them like lions. “(Dortmund chief Hans-Joachim) Watzke walks 180 degrees into one direction and I 180 degrees into the other. But even though it does not look like it right now, I still hope for a sensible solution.

“Such an offer to join Manchester United might only come once in a lifetime for a player and nobody can guarantee us that the door will still be open for Micki next season. Manchester are Micki’s dream club, he wants to join them by any means.”

United fans would love to see a player of Mkhitaryan’s calibre filling a role that currently represents a massive hole in the squad. The 27-year-old has been one of the best talents in the Bundesliga this season, though he did take a while to adjust after joining Dortmund from Shakhtar Donetsk. The fact that Mkhitaryan’s contract expires in a year represents hope for United fans that Dortmund will be persuaded to let him go, but it also means that United will be spending a lot of money for a player who will be available for free in January. United fans love players who want to play for the club more than anything, but they have felt cautious about big-money transfers since the high-profile disappointment that still surrounds Angel Di Maria’s move to Old Trafford.

However, the chance to add a player of Mkhitaryan’s calibre when United has not qualified for the Champions League is a rare one, and if he joins he would be the perfect player to build the team around. Jose Mourinho had Eden Hazard to build his Chelsea side around, and Mkhitaryan represents a somewhat similar player in many respects, though he is a bit older and possesses different attributes to the electric Chelsea winger. In Mkhitaryan, Ed Woodward and Jose Mourinho have the chance to make another massive statement, and that is a concept both men are famous for.